In this news alert:

SINGAPORE – Changes for Company Directors

Effective 7 November 2016, the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore will now only allow a company to appoint an Employment Permit (EP) holder sponsored by another company to their board of directors once it has granted a Letter of Consent (LOC).

The Letter of Consent will be granted only if the company can demonstrate that:

the Employment Pass holder’s company is a parent or subsidiary company of, or an investor in, the company;

the Employment Pass holder’s secondary employment as director is related to their primary employment in Singapore.

Note that:

This rule change is retroactive – companies that have already appointed Employment Pass holders from other companies to their board of directors must apply for a Letter of Consent;

The Letter of Consent must be renewed when the Employment Pass is renewed.

Action Items

Companies seeking to appoint Employment Pass holders sponsored by another company to their board of directors must first obtain a letter of consent from the Ministry of Manpower;

Companies that have already appointed Employment Pass holders sponsored by another company to their board of directors must now retroactively obtain a letter of consent from the Ministry of Manpower.